Venezuelans protest in support of jailed opposition leader

Some 2,000 protesters rallied in Venezuela's capital Saturday in support of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez who was recently sentenced to nearly 14 years behind bars.

The gathering in eastern Caracas came in response to a call from Lopez himself, relayed to supporters through his wife Lilian Tintori.

Lopez, 44, is an economist with a master's degree from Harvard University who was convicted this month for inciting violence in protests against the government of Nicolas Maduro that left 43 dead and about 3,000 wounded between February and May 2014. He has been held since February 2014.

Tintori attended the rally alongside members of the opposition coalition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) -- including candidates running in December 6 legislative elections.

Some supporters chanted "Yes, we can!" while others waved banners reading "Venezuela wants justice."

Speeches made by several speakers, including Tintori, focused on the return of political exiles, hardships faced by Venezuelans due to a deep economic crisis that has caused a chronic shortage of basic goods, and soaring crime.

Opposition lawmakers have said that, if they get a majority in the assembly, they will pass an amnesty law so that people who have gone into exile for political reasons can return home.

Venezuela imports the vast majority of the basic goods it consumes with oil money, which accounts for 96 percent of its foreign currency.

But that cash has dried up as crude prices have slid by more than 50 percent since mid-2014.

"Our salaries are just not enough to live on," said one protester, 51-year-old high school teacher Yureima Moreno.

Source: AFP